Was Hoakes decision to go for 2 at the end of the game rather than opting for OT @ home worse than Saban fighting to have a second put back on the clock so they could kick a FG with a kicker that had struggled all day long and just had his last attempt blocked?

Different kicker.

 

I liked both decisions.

Bama's was worse.

Michigan made the right call, but ran the wrong play.

Michigan's easily, IMO.... How Bama lost, there was a .001% that would happen.

Alabama's was worse. I get the bit about not going for it at home, but you win and lose the game on your own terms there. They just called the wrong play, and it was extremely obvious as they lined up it was the wrong play. I even said aloud "This is obviously a really dumb play" before the snap.

 

With Bama, the odds that you will be able to drive into scoring range there at the end with 25 seconds left were astronomical. I never like doing what they did in that situation. I thought they got lucky on the first play because they went to throw and pressure was all around McCarron, who was holding the ball with one hand. All it would've taken was the ball being swatted out of his hand and you lose there. Auburn didn't call timeout after they ran into the line on second down, which told me they were fine with OT. All of that is BEFORE you get to the insanely long kick. 57 yards? What could have possessed Saban to think that a guy who didn't hit from 38 and 44 (and had another blocked) was going to hit that? Maybe he didn't think it was going to get returned, but he never should have attempted anything from the word go. Take a knee, go to OT.

Alabama's was worse. I get the bit about not going for it at home, but you win and lose the game on your own terms there. They just called the wrong play, and it was extremely obvious as they lined up it was the wrong play. I even said aloud "This is obviously a really dumb play" before the snap.

 

With Bama, the odds that you will be able to drive into scoring range there at the end with 25 seconds left were astronomical. I never like doing what they did in that situation. I thought they got lucky on the first play because they went to throw and pressure was all around McCarron, who was holding the ball with one hand. All it would've taken was the ball being swatted out of his hand and you lose there. Auburn didn't call timeout after they ran into the line on second down, which told me they were fine with OT. All of that is BEFORE you get to the insanely long kick. 57 yards? What could have possessed Saban to think that a guy who didn't hit from 38 and 44 (and had another blocked) was going to hit that? Maybe he didn't think it was going to get returned, but he never should have attempted anything from the word go. Take a knee, go to OT.

 

It was a different kicker...

It was a different kicker...

 

Was it? Couldn't tell that from the restaurant. So not even your starting kicker? Your backup/long range kicker? Even dumber. Saban is a great coach, but I was repeatedly saying to those at my table that you take your knee and go to OT. The odds were low what happened as far as the return goes, but I feel the odds were low that he hits that kick. He shorted it and pushed it right. I don't think it's good even if it's long enough.

Was it? Couldn't tell that from the restaurant. So not even your starting kicker? Your backup/long range kicker? Even dumber. Saban is a great coach, but I was repeatedly saying to those at my table that you take your knee and go to OT. The odds were low what happened as far as the return goes, but I feel the odds were low that he hits that kick. He shorted it and pushed it right. I don't think it's good even if it's long enough.

 

Yeah it was their backup. Freshmen I believe. And I think if he got it aimed at the left post he may have made it but it would've been close.

Edited December 1, 201312 yr by nkuclubbaseball19
There, their, they're

Both were terrible decisions that cost their respective team the game. Alabama's was worse though.

Neither was the wrong decision. Bad execution by the players on the field. Michigan did not execute. Bama should have been more disciplined in their defense of the kick return. It does not matter if the player returns it to the 30 or 50 or 10 all they had to do was make a tackle.

Watching both games live I liked both decisions...but Alabama's was a little more suspect when you figure a Redshirt Freshman that had only kicked 3 times all year was being called on to kick it. But if they felt he had the leg to make it they also didn't think that the ball would come down in bounds to be returned, had to be thinking that if he missed it would be left or right and not returnable.

 

I love Alabama but I not mad they lost. I can't stand Michgan and think even less of OSU, that said my rule in that game is to always root for the upset whichever team that it may be.

Neither was the wrong decision. Bad execution by the players on the field. Michigan did not execute. Bama should have been more disciplined in their defense of the kick return. It does not matter if the player returns it to the 30 or 50 or 10 all they had to do was make a tackle.

 

Nine offensive Linemen a kicker and a holder trying to run down a punt returner, not really the right tool for the job.

Nine offensive Linemen a kicker and a holder trying to run down a punt returner, not really the right tool for the job.

I think this was the main fallacy in Bama's decision. It didn't seem to me that the Tide players were prepared at all for the posibility of a return.

I think this was the main fallacy in Bama's decision. It didn't seem to me that the Tide players were prepared at all for the posibility of a return.

So you put your kick coverage guys out there to block for the kick? If so I think they get ran over by Auburn. Alabama was defending against a blocked kick that could have been returned by putting the bigguns' out there, it's hard to MAX Protect and Kick Cover both on the same play.

So you put your kick coverage guys out there to block for the kick? If so I think they get ran over by Auburn. Alabama was defending against a blocked kick that could have been returned by putting the bigguns' out there, it's hard to MAX Protect and Kick Cover both on the same play.

That is exactly the conundrum. There is no good answer.